medically reviewed by Dr Naveen Chandran

6 mins read
Updated on December 06, 2024

8 Face Yoga Exercises To Treat Marionette Lines

We cannot put a full stop to ageing - Be it skin ageing or otherwise. However, the question is, can we reverse how age makes us look? Precisely, this is what we will be doing today - Erasing off one of the wrinkles you get as you age, the marionette lines. Before we take you through facial exercises and face yoga for marionette lines, let us help you understand these lines.

Jump to section

What are Marionette Lines?

Marionette lines, or vertical wrinkles, form between the mouth and chin beside your lips. You can also call them smiling or laughing lines. 

Let's help you get rid of these depressing lines with the help of the best facial exercises for lines around the mouth.

8 Best Face Yoga Exercises for Marionette Lines

Relax and calmly learn how to perform each step of these unique face yoga exercises with us. 

Preparation Before the Exercises

Sit in a comfortable place and relax. It's best if you keep the environment around you calm.

  • Take a few deep breaths and release tension.
  • Massage gently using your two fingers on your chin, cheeks and temples for 5 seconds each.
  • Relax and retake a few deep breaths.

Now, we will go through each exercise one by one.

O-Shape-Exercise

‘O’ shape exercise will tighten the muscles around your lips. Moreover, it acts as an excellent exercise for lip wrinkles, too.

How to Perform?

  • Make an O shape with your mouth.
  • With your index fingers, tap both sides of your mouth.
  • Move the fingers from your lips to your cheeks (in the upward direction.) 
  • Practise the same movement for five minutes.

Smile Lifter

A smile lifter will naturally lift the corners of your mouth and tone the cheek muscles. It is one of the core face yoga exercises for marionette lines.

What Should You Do?

  • Move your jaw forward.
  • Curl your lips over your teeth.
  • Smile and keep the corners of your lips at the same level.
  • Lift your chin and try to touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
  • Hold the position for 10 seconds.
  • Repeat the same a few times.

Cheek Lifter

The face yoga technique of the cheek lifter will help pull up muscles responsible for the depressing marionette lines. Toning these muscles helps you erase your marionette lines.

How Can You Perform?

  • Cover your cheeks with your palms.
  • With all four fingers, push on the side of your lips.
  • Curl your lips inwards over your teeth.
  • Lift your cheeks as you smile.
  • Inhale and keep in position for 5-10 seconds.
  • Repeat this five times.

Pencil Technique

The said face yoga technique engages the muscles around your lips, chin, and neck, helping them become more toned and flexible. If you have smoker lines, you should practise this technique of face yoga for smoker lines.

How to Perform?

  • Purse your lips to hold the pencil between.
  • Now, try to move your jaw forward and backwards.
  • Tilt your face upwards to the left.
  • Hold for 5 seconds.
  • Now, turn to the right and hold for 5 seconds.
  • Repeat three times.

Puffy Cheeks

The puffy cheeks facial yoga exercise lifts and fends your cheeks by stimulating circulation. Further, you're in for a bonus. It will definitely help with all the pesky wrinkles around your mouth.

What Should You Do?

  • Fill your mouth with air and puff your cheeks.
  • Place one of your palms on your lips.
  • Tap your puffed cheeks gently with the fingertips of your other hand.
  • Carry the process out for both your cheeks for 30 seconds each.

Tongue Stretch

Tongue stretch is a tension stretch you feel around your mouth when the muscles work well. So, the tension around the mouth gets reduced. It works as a great facial exercise for jowls and facial lines.

What Should You Do?

  • Extend your tongue outside like a lion as far as possible. In other words, you should touch your chin with your tongue.
  • Hold in the position for 10 seconds.
  • You can feel the stretch around your mouth.
  • Repeat this for at least five times.

Jawline Definer

Along with working on marionette lines, jawline definer helps you define your jawline.

What are the Steps to Perform?

  • Tilt your head backwards and lift your chin.
  • Close your mouth and move your jaw forward.
  • Hold for 5 seconds.
  • Come back to the starting position.
  • Repeat this movement ten times.

The 'L' Shape and Lift

Practising the' L' shape and lift face yoga exercises encourages your lips to go upwards instead of downwards. Thus, it makes them one of the best facial exercises for marionette lines. After all, strengthening the muscles between your lips and chin can also help tone your lower jaw. 

How Can You Perform Them?

  • Make an L shape with your thumb and fingers of both hands at a 90-degree angle to each other on your face. How? The answer is by placing the fingers on each of your cheeks and the thumbs on your chin, touching each other.
  • Pull the cheeks a little backwards without much pressure.
  • Press your lips against each other as you do the above step.
  • Hold this for 15 seconds.
  • Relax and repeat at least five times.

You can strengthen all the muscles causing marionette lines by doing all the above exercises. Doing so can beautify your smile naturally. 

Incorporating Face Yoga Exercises for Marionette Lines Into Your Daily Routine

Let us give you an idea about how to practise these face yoga exercises daily. Here you go!

Morning Smile with Morning Sunshine

  • Cleanse with a hydrating cleanser.
  • Wake your muscles up with an easy face yoga routine.
  • What could this easy-peasy routine be? Add cheek puffs, smile lifter and cheek lift.
  • Apply a natural toner that can balance your skin's pH.
  • Apply a natural face serum rich in antioxidants.
  • In the end, apply a good sunscreen with an SPF of 50.

P.S. Always use skincare products that suit your skin type. If you're trying on a new one, ensure you do a patch test on your inner elbow.

Mid-Day Smile Lifter

  • Hydrate your skin once in a while between your daily chores.
  • Use a good facial mist that contains rose water or chamomile for a refreshing twist.
  • Do some 'O' shape facial yoga exercises.

Evening Routine 

  • Cleanse and remove your makeup. Detoxify your skin of the impurities of the day.
  • Practise face yoga for marionette lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and other skincare concerns. Doing so will also help you release muscle tension.
  • Apply a natural toner to relax your skin and replenish it.

Before Bed Relaxation

  • Do face massage with a natural face oil or serum before sleeping. Doing so will help you enhance blood circulation and lymphatic drainage.
  • It is essential to relax your body into sleep. You can perform gentle breathwork exercises before you hit the sheets.
  • Further, hydrate yourself with a glass of water.
  • Lastly, sleep on your back to minimise face wrinkles and creases caused by pillow pressure.

“The most natural way of practising face yoga is by adding ayurvedic essential oils. Try adding face yoga ayurvedic oils like kumkumadi oil for the added benefit of nourishment and relaxation,” says Dr Khusboo Jain, Senior Yoga Coach at Nirva.

For more tips and tricks, contact our face yoga experts to clarify doubts about how to go about your daily face yoga routine! They can guide you to work out a personalised routine of facial exercises for your marionette lines.

The Key Takeaways

The face yoga exercises for marionette lines listed above can help strengthen the facial muscles. Yes, where marionette lines often appear, thereby reducing the appearance of such lines and helping to lift your smile naturally. It will be best if you are consistent with this routine. Why? So that your facial muscles work efficiently to make your skin firm. 

These face yoga exercises for lines around the mouth are simple, non-invasive and worth every effort to practise.

Learn the Best Face Yoga Tips!

Get started for free
avatar

Dr. Bhavya

She offers a holistic approach to healing that focuses on the interplay between the body, mind, and spirit. Her expertise in these areas allows her to provide comprehensive care for various conditions, from musculoskeletal disorders to stress-related illnesses. She is dedicated to empowering women to take control of their health and well-being. Her proactive approach to healthcare emphasises the importance of preventive measures and natural remedies.

Frequently Asked Questions